NHRC seeks answers to “sadistic” response to rape of schoolgirl

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Maharashtra Government and the Defence Secretary following reports that a junior soldier sexually assaulted a schoolgirl in April 2017.

The Commission took up the matter after the family of the 15 year old girl claimed that her school in Maharashtra's Latur district expelled her after the police registered the case.

The soldier allegedly raped the girl under the pretext of marriage. He has not been arrested.

The girl's uncle alleged that the officials at Devni police station had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 to lodge the complaint and that an FIR (First Information Report) was registered in August only after the family approached the Superintendent of Police.

The Commission said in a statement that, based on these reports, the attitude of the local police and the school administration was "highly sadistic and unethical".

"The school authorities, instead of taking steps to counsel and support the victim, have decided to expel her from the school in the name of the reputation of the institution," the Commission said. "This is a case of grave violation of human rights of the victim."

The Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Maharashtra Director General of Police and the Collector and District Magistrate of Latur requesting them to submit reports on the mater within four weeks.

The NHRC also sent a copy of the proceedings and the media reports to the Defence Secretary and asked about the departmental action that was taken against the individual. The Defence Secretary is expected to reply within four weeks.

Date: 28 November 2017

Source: Scroll.in / National Human Rights Commission